The entire three-member Searcy County Election Commission resigned Friday, citing unresolved issues with the county's voter database that they believe could lead to voters receiving incorrect ballots in the November election. The resignations are effective immediately and have left Searcy County without an election commission as preparations for the general election continue.
Commission Chairman Laurie Gross, along with members Ken Weekley and Luther C. “L.C.” Ratchford, expressed concerns about inaccuracies in the voter and precinct information managed through the ES&S Power Profile database. They also criticized the lack of direct access to the database, which they said prevents them from verifying or correcting errors.
“I do not have confidence that the voter database is without errors,” Gross wrote in her resignation letter. She added that it would be "impossible" to ensure voters are assigned to the correct precincts or that ballots will be properly distributed in the upcoming election. Gross further expressed concern about the risk of enforcement actions or prosecutions if errors occur, particularly in light of previous disputes between the commission and the Arkansas State Board of Election Commissioners.
Weekley highlighted potential errors discovered recently in precinct assignments and voter data while the commission was preparing to print ballots. “These inaccuracies have resulted in a very high likelihood that a voter may receive an incorrect ballot despite our efforts to prevent such an occurrence,” Weekley wrote. He noted that the commission does not manage the database but is still responsible for ensuring voters receive the correct ballots.
Ratchford also pointed to unresolved discrepancies in the voter database that he said fall under the purview of the Searcy County Clerk's Office, which is tasked with maintaining the data. He echoed frustration over the commission's lack of access or authority to address the issues.
Searcy County has operated as Arkansas' “Paper Ballot County” for the past three years, following a 2023 ordinance designed to ensure secure, transparent elections at a reduced cost for the rural community. However, the resignations cast uncertainty over the county's ability to move forward with election preparations. Attempts to obtain an official response from the Searcy County Clerk’s Office about the next steps have not been successful as of Tuesday evening.
The upcoming general election will require the rapid establishment of a new election commission to avoid disruptions, but the timeline and process for doing so remain unclear.